M-Tag is the prepaid windscreen sticker that pays your toll on Pakistan's motorways. The National Highway Authority (NHA) made it mandatory for entry from 15 June 2026, so a car heading for the M-1, M-2, M-9 or the Hazara and Swat motorways should have a registered tag with money on it. You get one at a booth at a motorway toll plaza with your CNIC, and you top it up through an app rather than with cash.
This guide covers how to get the tag, how to keep it funded, and what to check if the car is borrowed or rented. It does not list toll rates, which change; our post on motorway tolls on the way to the northern areas covers the amounts for a typical road trip.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Prepaid RFID sticker on the windscreen, read at toll-plaza lanes |
| Mandatory from | 15 June 2026 (NHA) |
| Where to get one | Registration booths at motorway toll plazas |
| What to bring | Vehicle and CNIC; some sources also list the registration book |
| Registration fee | Sources differ, roughly PKR 200 to 250; ask at the booth |
| Cash top-up | Stopped from 30 June 2026 |
What is an M-Tag and why do you need one?
The tag is a small RFID sticker fixed inside the windscreen, linked to a prepaid account. Readers at the toll plaza scan it and deduct the toll, so you drive through without stopping to pay cash. The NHA has been moving towards a fully tag-based system for several years.
From February 2025 vehicles with no tag, or too little balance, were charged a 25% surcharge on the normal toll. The June 2026 rule goes further: NHA has said vehicles without a valid tag may face difficulty entering or travelling on the motorways at all. Treat the tag as a requirement, not an option.
How to get an M-Tag
- Drive to a motorway toll plaza with a registration booth. Most plazas on the M-1 and M-2 have one. Opening hours vary by booth, and some sources say they run round the clock and others give daytime hours, so do not plan to arrive late at night.
- Bring the car and your CNIC. The vehicle registration book and driving licence are listed as helpful by some sources, and worth having in the glovebox anyway.
- Pay the registration fee and load an opening balance. The figure has been reported as PKR 200 in some places and PKR 250 in others, and sources disagree on any minimum balance. Bring a few thousand rupees in cash for this first step and pay what the booth quotes.
- Let the staff fit the sticker. It goes inside the windscreen, on the upper part, not on the outside of the glass.
If your tag is more than five years old, NHA said it needed replacing by 30 June 2026 and would be blocked from 1 July. Replacement cost rose from free to PKR 150 in June and PKR 300 after 1 July. If yours is old, check it works before a long trip instead of finding out at the plaza.
How to top up an M-Tag
Cash recharge at the plaza ended on 30 June 2026, so top up before you leave home.
- The M-Tag One Network app, using a debit or credit card.
- JazzCash or Easypaisa, both of which have been listed as recharge routes. Our guide to JazzCash and Easypaisa for travellers explains who can use them.
- Digital options at some motorway service areas.
Check the balance before departure. Tolls add up on a long route, and a low balance costs you the surcharge or a delay at the lane. For a return trip from Lahore or Islamabad towards Hazara or Swat, top up for both directions and add a margin.
Using the tag on the road
Drive through the M-Tag lane at the speed posted at the plaza and keep a safe gap. The reader works only if the tag is fixed on the glass and the balance is enough.
If the barrier does not lift or the lane rejects you, do not reverse. Wait for staff. Toll rates and lane arrangements are set by the NHA and can change, so follow the signs on the day.
Rented, borrowed and shared cars
- A borrowed car may already have a tag, but the balance and registration belong to the owner. Ask for the balance to be checked, and agree how you will pay the owner back.
- A rental with a driver often has a tag; confirm it is valid and who pays the tolls, because quotes are sometimes worded to leave tolls out. Our guide to hiring a car with a driver covers other questions to ask.
- A tag moved between vehicles is not something to improvise. Ask a booth, since the tag is linked to a specific vehicle.
Overseas visitors in a rented car should ask the rental company how the tag is handled, since registration asks for a CNIC.
Is an M-Tag worth the fuss?
If you use the motorways more than once, yes. The tag is cheap next to the tolls and removes the plaza queue. For a single one-way trip in a friend's car, the friend probably already has one.
Frequently asked questions
Is M-Tag compulsory on Pakistani motorways?
Yes. The NHA made it mandatory from 15 June 2026. Cars without a valid tag may struggle to enter the motorway.
How much does an M-Tag cost?
Sources differ, with figures around PKR 200 to 250 for registration plus a balance for tolls. Ask at the booth for the current amount.
Can I recharge an M-Tag with cash?
Not any more. Cash recharge ended on 30 June 2026. Use the M-Tag One Network app, JazzCash or Easypaisa, or a digital counter at a service area.
Where do I get an M-Tag?
At registration booths at motorway toll plazas such as those on the M-2 and M-9. Take your CNIC and the vehicle.
Do I need an M-Tag for the Karakoram Highway?
No, the KKH is not a motorway. You need the tag for the motorways you use to reach it. See the toll guide for the route, and our travel FAQs for other practical questions.
